The results of Doug Roberson’s one-man weekly MLS Power Poll are in and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (pictured above) couldn’t be happier:
1. LAFC (18-3-4)
Last week: 1.
Won at Real Salt Lake 2-0.
It seems everyone assumes this team is going to host the MLS Cup. I’m not as sure. Defense, defense, defense.
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2. Atlanta United (14-9-3)
Last week: 3.
Meanwhile, if this team keeps rolling, it will host the MLS Cup should LAFC slip.
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3. Philadelphia (13-8-6)
Last week: 2.
Defeated by Chicago 2-0.
Atlanta United knows that it’s tough to win at Chicago, for some bizarre reason. But that’s a game that the Union couldn’t lose. Now, it must bounce back at home against D.C. United.
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4. Minnesota (12-8-6)
Last week: 5.
Defeated Colorado 1-0 and 1-1 draw with Orlando.
Two wins from their past six, but the team is figuring out how to still get at least a point. The U.S. Open Cup is going to be huge.
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5. NYCFC (11-5-8)
Last week: 10.
Won at Cincinnati 4-1.
They have two games in hand on Atlanta United but have lost James Sands to a broken collarbone.
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6. L.A. Galaxy (13-11-2)
Last week: 12.
Defeated Dallas 2-0 and draw with Seattle 2-2.
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7. Real Salt Lake (12-10-4)
Last week: 8.
Defeated Seattle 3-0 and defeated by LAFC 2-0.
No shame in losing to LAFC. Big, big game at home on Saturday against Colorado.
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8. Seattle (11-8-7)
Last week: 7.
Defeated at Real Salt Lake 3-0 and draw at L.A. Galaxy 2-2.
Just one win in six since knocking off Atlanta United. I’ve said for years that this team looks slow.
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9. Portland (11-10-4)
Last week: 4.
Defeated Chicago 3-2 and defeated by Atlanta United, 2-0.
The Timbers had every chance to score against Atlanta United, and every chance to give up about six goals. It’s unbalanced.
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10. New York Red Bulls (11-10-5)
Last week: 9.
Draw with New England 1-1.
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11. San Jose (11-9-5)
Last week: 6.
Defeated at Sporting KC 2-1.
Winless in its past three and running out of gas, it appears.
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12. Orlando (9-11-7)
Last week: 14.
Defeated Sporting KC 1-0 and draw with Minnesota 1-1.
Unbeaten in four and if it’s not motivated to host Atlanta United on Friday, I won’t know what to say. Dropping three points against Minnesota may be the difference between its first playoff appearance and sitting at home...again.
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13. D.C. United (10-8-9)
Last week: 11.
Defeated at Vancouver 1-0.
It’s a good thing this team has a points cushion, because otherwise I don’t see it making the playoffs.
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14. Dallas (10-10-7)
Last week: 13.
Defeated at L.A. Galaxy 2-0 and draw at Montreal 3-3.
Just a dull team.
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15. New England (9-9-8)
Last week: 15.
Draw at New York Red Bulls 1-1.
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16. Columbus (7-14-6)
Last week: 16.
Draw with Toronto 2-2.
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17. Montreal (10-13-4)
Last week: 17.
Draw with Dallas 3-3.
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18. Chicago (8-11-9)
Last week: 18.
Defeated at Portland 3-2 and defeated Philadelphia 2-0.
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19. Colorado (7-13-6)
Last week: 19.
Defeated at Minnesota 1-0 and draw at Houston 2-2.
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20. Toronto (9-10-7)
Last week: 20.
Draw at Columbus 2-2.
So, here’s the thing: I keep reading about the talent this team has with Alejandro Pozuelo, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. What if, and hear me out, when it won the title in 2017 Altidore looked really good because of Sebastian Giovinco, and Bradley looked really good because of Victor Vazquez? And now that those two players are gone, equilibrium has been found and it turns out that Altidore is good, but not great, and Bradley is average on his best day at this point in their careers?
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21. Houston (9-13-4)
Last week: 21.
Draw with Colorado 2-2.
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22. Sporting KC (8-11-7)
Last week: 24.
Defeated at Orlando 1-0 and 2-1 win against San Jose.
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23. Vancouver (6-12-9)
Last week: 23.
Defeated D.C. United 1-0.
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24. Cincinnati (5-18-3)
Last week: 22.
Defeated by NYCFC 4-1.
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